Implementing New Technologies

The impact of technological change on manufacturing industry and related business sectors is profound, and the pace of change continues to accelerate. The issue of implementation is now recognised as central, yet serious literature is scattered. This book collects together key theoretical and empirical international contributions covering important facets of this problem. After an editor's introduction, section 2 covers the nature of the problems associated with technological change. Section 3 then discusses manufacturing innovation as a process. Sections 4 and 5 look at issues in the key areas of corporate strategy and management of implementation. Section 6 analyzes financing issues - the problems of resource allocation and investment, and section 7 discusses the problems of reorganizing for technological change, including information systems and human skills. The book rounds off with several case studies from different industrial areas.